Name: Maple Glazed Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash Bliss
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 1 lb Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved; 1 lb butternut squash, peeled and cubed; 4 slices of bacon, chopped; 1/4 cup maple syrup; 2 tablespoons olive oil; Salt to taste; Pepper to taste

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Maple Glazed Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash Bliss is the perfect autumn side dish, combining sweet, savory, and tender textures. This one-pan recipe is incredibly simple to prepare, making it ideal for busy weeknights or a festive holiday meal. You will appreciate how quickly this dish comes together with minimal cleanup required after roasting everything to caramelized perfection.

Key Takeaways

Achieve the perfect balance of sweet maple syrup and salty, crispy bacon.
The roasting process coaxes out a natural sweetness and tender texture from the vegetables.
It is a flexible side dish that can easily be adapted for a vegetarian diet.

Maple Glazed Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash Bliss is made by tossing sprouts, squash, and bacon with olive oil and maple syrup, then roasting at $400^{\circ}\text{F}$ for 25–30 minutes. This roasting method ensures the vegetables become beautifully caramelized and tender while the bacon achieves a desirable crispiness. You will have a quick, simple, and flavorful side ready in under an hour.

Prepping the Vegetables for Roasting Success

You need to properly prepare your vegetables before they are ready for the oven to ensure consistent cooking. Begin by trimming the stem ends off your Brussels sprouts and cutting each one in half lengthwise. This simple step allows them to cook more evenly and develop better caramelization.

Next, you will peel and cube the butternut squash, aiming for pieces that are roughly the same size as the halved sprouts. Uniform pieces are important because they prevent some parts from overcooking before others are tender. If you want to save time, you can also purchase pre-cut squash from your grocery store.

Selecting High-Quality Ingredients for Flavor

Choosing the right ingredients is the first step toward a delicious final product that everyone will enjoy. Use pure maple syrup for this recipe; avoid imitation syrups which contain corn syrup and lack the rich, authentic flavor. You will find that pure syrup offers a deeper, more complex sweetness.

For the savory element, select a good quality thick-cut bacon, which adds texture and a fantastic salty, smoky flavor to the dish. Using a high-quality extra virgin olive oil helps coat the vegetables evenly and aids in the caramelization process during roasting. You can find high-quality products on sites like Pinterest for inspiration.

The Role of Pure Maple Syrup

Pure maple syrup is more than just a sweetener; it plays a critical role in the texture and color of the dish. As the vegetables roast, the syrup caramelizes on their surface, creating a beautiful glaze and a slightly crisp exterior. This sweet coating balances the inherent bitterness of the Brussels sprouts remarkably well.

The maple flavor infuses into the bacon and the squash, giving the entire side dish a distinctly autumnal and comforting taste. You may adjust the amount of syrup you use based on your personal preference for sweetness, creating a custom glaze just for your family. This simple ingredient makes this dish a perfect pair for a $1$ lb Bacon Brown Sugar Chicken entrée.

Choosing the Right Type of Bacon

The choice of bacon significantly impacts the overall flavor profile and texture of your Maple Glazed Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash Bliss. Thick-cut bacon is generally recommended because it stays meaty and doesn’t completely disappear during the roasting time. You want the bacon to be crispy, not incinerated.

If you wish to manage the fat content, you can use turkey bacon or even pre-cook the bacon halfway before tossing it with the vegetables. Remember that the bacon grease released during cooking adds an extra layer of savory depth to the maple-glazed vegetables, which is a key part of the bliss.

The Simple Mixing and Tossing Process

Mixing your ingredients is the straightforward part of preparing your Maple Glazed Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash Bliss before baking. You will want to use a large bowl to ensure you have enough room to toss everything thoroughly. Combine the prepped sprouts, squash cubes, and chopped bacon in the bowl.

Next, drizzle the olive oil, maple syrup, salt, and pepper over the vegetable and bacon mixture. Toss everything vigorously with your hands or two large spoons until every piece is coated in the sweet and savory glaze. This coating is what will produce the gorgeous caramelization in the oven.

Mastering the Oven Roasting Technique

The correct roasting technique is what delivers the crispy bacon and tender vegetables in your final dish. Preheat your oven to a hot $400^{\circ}\text{F}$ ($200^{\circ}\text{C}$) to encourage browning and caramelization. You need to use a high temperature for roasting vegetables like these.

Spread the mixture onto a single large baking sheet in a thin, even layer without crowding the pan. Crowding leads to steaming instead of roasting, which results in softer, less appealing textures. If necessary, you should use two baking sheets to maintain a single layer for maximum crispiness.

Timing and Temperature Control

The suggested baking time for this Maple Glazed Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash Bliss is 25-30 minutes, but you must monitor the vegetables closely. Factors like the exact size of your squash cubes and the power of your oven can alter the cooking time required for tenderness. The total time of $45$ minutes is very achievable.

You should stir the mixture halfway through the baking period, around the 15-minute mark, to ensure even browning and crispiness on all sides. The dish is finished when the squash is fork-tender and the bacon is delightfully crispy and the sprouts are caramelized, turning a deep brown color.

Ensuring Proper Caramelization

Caramelization is the secret to a great roasted side dish, and the maple syrup plays a huge role in achieving it. To promote browning, ensure that the cut sides of the Brussels sprouts are facing down when you first spread the mixture on the sheet. This direct contact with the hot pan helps them crisp up.

The natural sugars in both the squash and the maple syrup will react to the heat, creating a rich, golden-brown exterior. If you feel your vegetables are not browning enough after $25$ minutes, you can slightly increase the oven temperature or simply let them cook for another five minutes. This dish is great for a side and you can add it to your $https://carinarecipes.com/course/side-dishes/$ category.

Nutritional Value and Dietary Adaptations

This side dish offers a good balance of nutrients, with the butternut squash providing significant amounts of Vitamin A and Vitamin C. Brussels sprouts are also rich in fiber and antioxidants, making this recipe a wholesome addition to any meal. This blend of vegetables is quite healthy for you.

With only $220$ calories per serving, this recipe is a relatively light side, especially considering the high fiber content. If you are interested in the nutritional background of the squash, you can read more about the benefits of Butternut Squash on Wikipedia for additional insight. The $6$ grams of protein per serving also contribute to your daily intake.

Making It Vegetarian or Vegan

You can easily adapt this Maple Glazed Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash Bliss recipe for vegetarian guests by simply omitting the bacon. The dish will still retain a delightful blend of sweet and savory flavors from the maple syrup and the roasting process. The recipe is also naturally gluten-free.

To make it completely vegan, you only need to ensure you omit the bacon entirely. You can also add some smoked paprika or a teaspoon of liquid smoke to the seasoning mix to replace the smoky, savory depth lost by removing the bacon from the recipe. This is a flavorful side to pair with a main course, like our Ground Turkey and Peppers.

Serving and Pairing Suggestions

This sweet and savory side dish pairs wonderfully with a variety of main courses, especially roasted meats. Consider serving your Maple Glazed Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash Bliss alongside roasted chicken, pork tenderloin, or even a holiday turkey. The maple glaze complements rich, savory flavors nicely.

You should serve the dish warm, straight from the oven, to appreciate the contrast between the crispy bacon and the tender, hot vegetables. For an added touch of texture and flavor, you can sprinkle the finished dish with toasted pecans or a small amount of crumbled goat cheese. Follow Carina Recipes on Instagram for more side dish ideas.

Tips for Perfect Brussels Sprouts

Achieving perfectly cooked Brussels sprouts is key to this recipe’s success, moving them far beyond their traditional boiled state. Make sure you pat your sprouts dry after washing them; excess moisture creates steam, preventing the desirable crispy edges from forming. This simple trick is a game-changer for you.

If you encounter very large sprouts, you may want to quarter them rather than just halving them to match the size of the squash pieces. Smaller pieces ensure they cook through at the same rate as the squash, resulting in a consistent tenderness across the entire dish. You want everything to be tender.

Troubleshooting Common Roasting Issues

If you find that your vegetables are browning too quickly, you can reduce the oven temperature slightly to finish the cooking process. Conversely, if they are tender but lack the desired color, simply place the pan under the broiler for 1-2 minutes, but watch them closely. The intense heat from the broiler will help you develop a beautiful char.

Remember that stirring the mixture halfway through is non-negotiable for even cooking and crispiness. If the sprouts or squash are sticking to your pan, you may not have used enough olive oil or you might need to line your baking sheet with parchment paper first. You can learn more about the scientific process of browning on Wikipedia.

Storing and Reheating Leftovers Properly

If you have any leftover Maple Glazed Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash Bliss, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. This recipe is simple to make, but having leftovers is a great bonus. They make a great addition to your lunch the next day.

The best way to reheat leftovers is not in the microwave, as that will make the bacon and sprouts soggy. Instead, you should spread them back onto a baking sheet and reheat them in a $350^{\circ}\text{F}$ oven for about 5-10 minutes. This method helps to restore some of the original crispiness and texture for you. Try this side with our Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole.

The Simplicity of a Single Sheet Pan Meal

The beauty of the Maple Glazed Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash Bliss is in its simplicity as a sheet pan meal. Preparing the entire side dish on one pan dramatically reduces your cleanup time. You will appreciate not having a sink full of bowls and pots after your meal.

This method also allows all the flavors to meld together as the vegetables and bacon roast side-by-side. The bacon grease, olive oil, and maple syrup coat everything, creating a harmonious and unified flavor profile for you. This quick preparation is why sheet pan recipes are so popular and worth your time.

Why This Side Dish is a Crowd-Pleaser

This side dish is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, perfect for guests who claim they do not like Brussels sprouts. The roasting process removes the sulfurous flavor that many people dislike, replacing it with a sweet, nutty, and caramelized taste. The addition of bacon and maple syrup makes it irresistible.

The combination of textures—crispy bacon, tender squash, and slightly charred sprouts—provides an interesting mouthfeel that keeps you coming back for more. This dish provides a perfect balance of sweet, salty, and savory, offering a complexity of flavor in a very simple side. This dish is great with a main course, like our Chicken Bacon Ranch Tater Tot Casserole.

Maple Glazed Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash Bliss is a fantastic, flavorful side dish that you will find yourself making repeatedly, especially during the colder months. You will love how the rich, smoky flavor of the bacon is perfectly complemented by the sweet notes of the maple syrup and the earthy taste of the roasted vegetables.

Embrace the easy, one-pan convenience of this recipe for your next gathering or weeknight dinner, knowing you are serving something both delicious and nutritious. This combination of sweet and savory textures delivers a comforting experience that is sure to become a staple in your recipe rotation.